Literacy on Pitara Kids Network

Babolito

Sun, 10 Nov 2002 04:15:30 +0000

Mohanty ma’am was teaching the class five students of Arya Wonderland about similes.

“As beautiful as?” she asked, looking at the students.

“The rose, the Taj Mahal, Aishwarya Rai….” There were several shouts.

“And now, as ugly as?” Mohanty ma’am questioned.

There was a pause then a girl said in a loud and clear voice: “As ugly as Sarita.”

There were a few giggles, a couple of sniggers and then laughter.

Sarita felt herself burning with shame and pain as all eyes turned towards her, bored into her, making her feel exposed. She hid her face in her hands and wept.

Ferret this Out!

Tue, 09 Apr 2002 15:24:31 +0000

Animals have their peculiar traits. No wonder many phrases in the English language are derived from them – even our headline.

Peru's Barefoot Librarians

Thu, 05 Jul 2001 19:45:20 +0000

Twelve year-old Leonardo Herrera had never seen a book in his life although he knew how to read. He and his friends used to carve letters and numbers on cactus leaves after seeing their teacher do the same on small blackboards.

He belongs to poor peasant family in Bambamarca in Peru. His family grows maize and potatoes in a place which is 12,000 feet above sea-level.

But Leonardo wanted to see what a book looks like. So he asked the new priest in his parish to give him one. But there was no electricity in his village. So Leonardo borrowed candles from the church and sat up all night reading it. By dawn, he was at the door of the priest asking for another book to read.